Shoe forming and toe lasting machine



June 6, 1944.

H. WALTHE R, SR

SHOE FORMING AND TOE LASTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1941 Men/ivy l'l'einr/c/l In/av???er, 8/:

H. WALTHER, SR

SHOE'FORMING AND TOE LASTING MACHINE.

June 6, 1944.

Filed Jan. 16, 1941 s Sheets -Sheet 2 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 H. WALTHER, SR

SHOE FORMING AND TOE LASTING MACHINE Fild Jan. 16, 1941 wwowwwwwwwwwa h I nu" June 6, -1944.

June 6, 1944. H. WALTI- -IER, sR 2,350,849 SHOE FORMING AND TOE LASTING MACHINE Filed Jani. 16, 1941 6 Sheets-SheetA June 6, 1944, H. WALTHER, SR

SHOE-FORMING AND TOE LASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1941 s Sheets-Sheqti Ma M W 3 J I #5 June 6, 1944. H. WALTHE R, SR

SHOE. FORMING AND TOE LASTING MACHINE Filed Jah. 16, 1941 6 S heets -Sheet 6 Patented June 6, 1944 snon FORMING AND TOE LASTING MACHINE Heinrich Walther, Sr., Frankfort-on-the-Main- Oberrad, Germany; ve

erty Custodian sted in the Alien Prop- Application January 16, 1941, Serial No. 374,645

. In Germany January 19, 1940 17 Claims.

This invention relates to a stretching and toe lasting machine for boots and shoes whereof the lipv of the uppers is pulled or folded towards the inside, comprising cQeoperating pincers and wip ers for cement-lasting, similar. as for the heellasting. In the hitherto known lasting machines ofthis kind the pincers. are mechanically combined with thewipers in such a way that their movements relate to each-other whereby the pincers are guided by vertical or oblique guide bars which, however, interfere with the control means to be arranged and with the required supports for the shoe last. In the case of such machines a cementing material is used wherewith thev uppers to be stretched or pulled are coated priorto 'or during the lastingwork. The machines in question have many defects, particularly thatthe main movements of the machine are mechanically so effected that an interruption of the, motion is no more possible after the start of they working. operation; the folds formed are of irregular shape and therefore undesired; besides, theuppers are not well stretched. f a

V The new machine according to this invention which eliminates the above mentioned defects adds substantial and new features to the toe lasting which make it possible to simultaneously combine the stretching of the uppers with the folding and lasting respectively. The wipers and pincers are of similar shape so. thatsuflicient space remains underneath the pincers for the installation of the necessary control gears and supports. The forming pincers for pulling the uppers over the last' are flat horse-shoe shaped parts similar .to shearsand are. located, nearly parallel, directly underneath the well-known also horse-shoe shaped wipers; they are actuated in couple-connection. by the movements of-the Wipers. The pairs of forming pincers grip the uppers of the shoe-toe by; theirwholehorse-shoe shaped surface and not only-by.points. Duringthis op- I eration, the wipers are connected to a controlled wiper slide, and separate from it are the pincerpairs connected to another also controlled pincerslide so that both wipers and pincers, though they are independent in mechanical respect are correspondingly moved. The .wiper-slide-is guided on a main slide actuating the control-gearsv of the individual parts by its movements. Thus, the machine consists of four main parts", namely the machine housing, the main slide guided on the main housing the wiper slide guided on the main slide, and the pincers-slidefguid ed .on the machine .housing; The machine is drivenby, compressed air or hydraulically, Wherebyjthas been made possible to stop the machine at any posi-; tion or to reverse its motion. It has been achieved by the suitable constructure of the formingpincers that the uppers are gripped by the pincers so long until they have been gripped by thewipers. To ensure a safe support, last-feelers, sole and ball-pressers and heel holders are arranged which are controlled by compressed airormechanically, whereby double-sole-pressers (press sure feet) prevent any undesired displacement or shifting of the insole. The forming pincers and sole-pressers are so controlled that theshoe-last from the tip on is only gradually released in or: der to let the wipers. turn it. All important parts are locked and so arranged that even the slight-' est return movement into the starting position is prevented. The wipers are heated in the well-; known manner. H The drive for the individual stagesof operation is effected through a new control valve which f o 1 lowsthe control steps of a pedal. An example of the structure of the new "ma chine may be as follows, as illustrated in .the attached drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a side view of the whole of. their ra chine, partly with sections of individual parts. Fig. 1a shows the gearing of a cam-control. Fig. lb shows a control yoke seen in the direc: tion of arrow 0 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a section on line I-I of Fig. 1.

5 operation.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the control valve for the compressed-air control, seen from two sides; part}: ly in section. V

Fig. 7 shows the positions. of. the .valve stems and cams at the three steps I, H, III.

Fig. 8 is a view from above of the wiper slide with the forming pincers, wipers, feelers, .and drive for the pincers. p 7

Fig. 9 shows the wipers with a heating arrange: n 1

..Fig. 10 shows the cam path according to Fig. la in section on line III-III of Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 shows the four main parts .of the machine according to Fig. 1 with themain drive; ,1

5Q Fig. 12 shows a part of .the machine in thelsid'e view,partlyin.section.. U Thenew stretching. and .toe lasting machine consists of four main parts, namely the machine musing the main Slide B, the wi 81mgdthe pincers slide, E (Fig. 11) Themainl ide B slides on the slide-ways 6, Figs. 1 and 11 of the housing A, whereas the wiper slide C with the guide 39 slides on the main slide B. On the housing A, an overhang and sliding machine-body D is mounted which carries the supporting devices for the shoe-last. The pincers-slide 1E slides on the housing A.

The main movements of the above parts are as follows:

The main-slide B with the wiper slide C slides on housing A. The wiper slide C slides in relation to the main slide B, and the driving gears of the supporting body D depend on the relative movements between main slide B and housingA and between main slide B and wiper slide 0, Figs. 1 and 11.

On housing A a pressure cylinder 2 is fixed whose piston 2a is connected by its piston rod 4 with a butt strap 3 at joint 3a. At the other end ofbutt. strap 3,.-i. e. .at joints 3b a swing-lever 5. isturnable. about the .axis 5a. This lever bears atoothed arc 61 at its other end. (Fig. 11). 7 Furthermore,.=this lever 5 bears also a roller 1 which rests on cam 8. This cam has double curves 8 and. Ba. (Figs. 1a and .10), and swivels. round the pin 68. in the main slide 3., The toothed are 61 meshes with rack 69 on wiper slide C.

On wiper slide 0 another pressure cylinder 24 is arranged whose piston is connected with yoke Figs. 1 and 8. As Fig. 8 shows, on slide 39 an arrangement of separately operating feelers and wipers is provided. The feelers 32 with the feeler-holders 13 are subjected to the pressure from spring 33. Three feelers 32 are arranged, namely two on the sides and one at the tip. The adjustment of the plates 12 of the Wipers is effected by means of a hand-wheel 14, Fig. 1,

through a spindle '15, Fig. 8 connected with the block 16 upon Which toothed bars are mounted. The latter bars mesh with pinion 5B the axle of which bears another pinion 59 gearing with the toothed arc of the plates 12 and adjusting these plates;

Figs. 4a, 4b; 4c illustrate the operation method of. the. wi ers and forming-pincers. Above the wipers 40 the feelers or fingers 32 are arranged. Below the wipers the two forming pincers 9, H] are arranged of which each differs from the other. The top pincers. 9 are provided with a row of holes 56a,.Fig.. 3, which are faced by the bolt .heads 56. ofthebottom pincers I0. The bolt heads enter into the holes 56a when the pincerpairs are closed, Fig. 4b: inthis case it mustbe noticed that the, wipers 40 are supported on the wiper slide, and the pincers 9, ID. in the slides 55 on the'housing l.. The wipers are electrically heated, Fig. 9. The machine is driven in a new manner by means of compressed air througha treadle control. F, Fig. 1, where thecontrol steps or notches land 22. are provided. This control whichv are connected with the curves 8 and 8a at joint 64. The lower joint 26 is coupled with butt strap 62 which is connected through ,a hinged joint strap 29 with the pivoted stop. pin 3.0. Thisstop pin 39 is situated on a locking rock 3|. (fluted) which is connected to the feelers32 with springs 33. J oint. strap 29 is: also connected with the bell crank 35 which is provided with a cam 35a for'pressing the locking pin 36 against rack 3|. 1 7

On. the shaft 5a a bevel gear system 42. with pinion, 43 is mounted. This pinion 43. and also the pinion 44 on axle .45mesh with a displaceable toothed rack 63. Pinion 43 is supported in .the main slide and pinion 44 in. thehousing A. On

leads to anew valve controlling device 23', Figs. 1., 15and16; the control'steps of which are shown injFig; 7'. The valve gear 23 controls the admission of compressed air through the. pipe linesTl into. cylinder 2" and throughline 1.8 into cylinder 241.511 the wiper'slide. The valve gear comprises ajvalve body 23, Figs- 5 and 6, in whicha cam shaft .19 with, threecams 69 is journalled. The

stem are kept each in a. different position.

the ax1e 45 cams 46, 41 and the worm gear 52 are On. the axle -68v ofthe cams 8 a toothedwheel I3 is fitted which meshes with rack l2 onthe pressure cylinder .2 and with a pinion. l'4on lever 64.. This lever 84. actuates through 2.. connecting rod l5 the lever which is supported at Hand. provided with a friction clutch. Lever is connected with the heel-holder 16. For lookingpurposes. a lockingpin. l1 anda fluted lockingcleat l3fare provided. f

Th worm gear on axle '45 actuates the. cams 53 upon which the, rollers 540i the. pincers-slides E; 55 are running,'Figs. 1 and 2, sliding onthe slide-guides 96 of housing. A. On the slides 55 the forming pincers-9 and III are pivoted at 1'9 above which the wipers, ar abutting, nearl'yin parallel. The top pincers 9 can be deflected against the bottom'jpincers l0, due totheirspri-ng action. These pincer hav nearly theshape' of a horse-shoe and. consist of mefn'bers moving towardseachother, in order to be adapted to the the "slide-guide 39 on the uppero'r wipersli'de' C;

When changing from the first notch 0, i. e. the neutral position, .into the second notch l the position II results of Fig. '7, that means, the stem 6| ofthe first cam 60 is pushed in (11a) and the compressed'air is' admitted to the top of cylinder 2 whereas the. other stems (H1), K0) are at rest. When changing is continued into the third notch 22,. position III, results as per Fig. 7.. In this case the stems IIIa as well as IE0 have been pushed down, so that compressed air flows through lin 18. also to the wiper slide cylinder 24; reversing back intojthe (ii-notch then position I results where only the second stern Ib is'pushed down for the admission of compressed air under the pis-' 1 ton 2a. Fig. 7'illustrates also the position "of, the

crankfill at every position of the reversing lever. The machine works as follows; 7

Byidisplacing the pedal F, Fig. 1, into the sec- 7 0nd notch l', the position of the valve 23 is x changed into position IIb, Fig. '7. This causes in'the direction of arrow 19' and drives the connecting'rod 3' by means of piston "rod 4 'at its eIldf 3a. On the housing A, two cylinders 2 of this kind with the moving rods are. fixed by bolts. When piston 21; with its connecting rod'3 moves,

' the main slide BLto-gether with the wiper slide C and withthe. parts belonging to it i moved down in the direction of arrow 1). This has been made possible, because'the cam '8 locks roller! and.

tam. At the .same' .time, the ballpresser 21 is moved forward and brought at rest on the therefore, the roller arm cannot swiveljabnut its akis of'rotation 5d, Figs. 1 and 11'. "Them lddle portion of the mainslide B is hollcw Fig. 10, and separate moving means 3, 5, 1 are provided on each-side of the slide, in fact, all outer parts movement is transmitted through. the rods I5,

20, 65, I9, whereby the'heel holder 'lfi :is pressed against the shoe-last-" Thisheel holder is provided with an air cushion or the like on its inner surface, in order to save the fine quality uppers and to ensure a close abutting. .As soon as the heel holder is resisted by the shoe-last it is locked along with the fluted bolt I 1 in' the 'fluted rack l8 which is connected with the lever 65. The friction clutch 20 serves for balancingsmall differences in size of the shoe-last and, besides this,

the size of the respective last is met with by an adjustment of the bolt Ha in the notched rack H3. The heel height ofthe last is adjusted by another adjusting arrangement 8|.

When. the main slide -B lis ,lo wered, also the wiper slide Cwith the wipers 4.0:;is lowered.

Thereby; the wiper-parts 4!) exert .pressure upon a the-forming pincers 9,F'igs. 2, and 40-0 and defiect them against the clamping Springs 82, until they rest upon the bottom pincers l0. As theshoe uppers have been already inserted before between the top and bottom pincers 9 and Ill, the leather is now gripped by both pincer pairs. To ensure a safe gripping, duringthis movement the bolt heads 56 enter into the holes 56a of the top pincers 9-and' clamp the uppers there.v fast, Fig. 4b. The bolts are of a longersizeat the side of the bottom pincers .10, in order to keep the -up- .pers there somewhat longer for the following lasting operation. Thereby it has been achieved that the folds formed at theshoe tip are kept small and of regular shape so that the hitherto irregularly placed, thick, and undesired wrinkled folds are eliminated.v The-uppers gripped by the pincerrpairs, 9, II) are stretched .downsofar as per 'Fig. lb until thepinc'ersare underneath the edge of the insole. This movement is effected by the earns 53 on the rollers 54 w'ithlthe slides 55,

The cams 53 are actuated through'a shaft 45 and a worm gear 52 by a pinion 44 .whichmeshes j with therack 63. This rackjs lowered down together withthe main.slide"B and actuates by means of pinion'44 theshaft'45, the cams46 and them toadditionally actuate the forming pincers,

whereby the uppers on the top of ftheshoelast may be ad usted, if necessary.

For the second operation, the treadle control F is displaced into the second notch 22, and the valve gearposition IlL'fiig. 7, is engaged at cam 23 so that compressed air flows also into the top cylinder24' onthe wiper slide. The main cylinder 2 remains under-the hitherto existing pressure whereby the movement of the" piston remains stopped by the stop dog-"l l. -The piston H o'f'cylinder' 24 is now movedin the direction of arrow a and turns the"'yoke 24 about its miroller 1 moves along curve 4| l port in this case.

When. the machine isqbrought, back-into the shoe-last. The applied surface of the ball presser is designed as an air cushion 28 or the like which has swung off the locking rack 3| in consequence cf the movement of butt strap 29, then, the thereby released feeler holders 13 are shifted by their springs 33 towards the shoe-last and adjoin against same. Three feelers 32 are arranged, Fig. 8, of which the one-is directly applied to the tip and the two others to thesides, whereas the three respective feeler holders l3'may be shifted hprizontally side by side in the wiper slide. After tl'ie feelers 32 have been pressed against the shoelast they must be locked. This is effected by means of the cam lever 35, namely, this lever is swung by butt strap 34, so that its cam 35a is pressed against the fluted locking pin 36 which in turn presses the locking rack 3| against the feeler holders I3, thereby locking :the' feeler holders 30 (Fig. 12) i .The control gearing 31, 38, 8 is also mounted on yoke 25 and joins in the movements of the yoke whereby the c'urves;8, 8a supported by axle 68 are swivelled. At the same time, roller Lon the lever 5 is thereby released so that it. can be swivelled about its fulcrum 5a'by means of. the connecting rod 3 (which is'still. being moved downwards under the piston. pressure) .;Thereby,

The toothed arc51- gearing with rack 69-is'also swivelled together with lever 5 and shifts the rack together with the wiper slide 39. Together with the slide 39, the wipers 40 (Figs; 1 and 8) are also displaced folding the uppers L which have been stretched before by the forming pincers 9, l0, over the edge of the last and then pressing onto the insole. Duringthis, the wipers are also turned about their hinge point 84 by means of the arrangement provided according to Fig. 8.

As lever 5 swings about 5a, the bevel gear 42 is also driven and turnsthrough the second bevel 1 off or deflect the front sole-presser; This'is done by the special curve Y46 and roller 48,'the rear sole-presser 50 giving still sufiicient sup- As during the lasting-operation the rear sole-presser 50 is at-a higher level than the wipers, it must,'all lasting-operations being finished, be alsoswivelled downwards that is effected by means ofcam 41 and roller 5 I Now,

the wipers bring the uppers L to a perfectly close fit on the. insole 85, Fig. 40 .11 order, to have the heel of the'last also joined in this movement, it is arranged displaceableso that itisalso somewhat lowered together with the :rear-press-foot pears, that'means, line 18 %is disconnected from cylinder 24 at the position In: of the'valve gear,

also line llafrom' the-topiinlet of cylinder 2 at I the position Ia'of the valve gear, whereasline'l'l opens into the bottom inlet of cylinder 2- at the position 11). The piston 2a and together iwith'it the connecting rod 3 and the mainslide B with the wiper slide C are pressed upwards again, and all before describedmovements are made in the reverse .sense so that the machine is-again in its starting position. i Fig. 9. shows'the heating arrangement for the wipers comprising an electrical heating element .86 placed in the wipers.

WhatIclaim is: w 1. A shoe shaping and: toe lasting machine performing cementation, stretching and simultaneously toe lasting 01? uppers of'shoes or boots, comprising movable wipers, r'neansconnected with said wipers for adjusting the same; divided pincers of similar shape as the wipers," said wipers being disposed over the pincers and adapted-to close the'pincers for. gripping the lip of the uppersstretched on the last, a slide'carryin-g said wipers, another separat slide carrying said pincers, and means actuating said s1ides.- 1

2. A toe lasting machine having cooperating wipers and pincers, the pincers comprising two horse-shoe shaped -pairs arranged one above the other, the upper pair of pincers being resilient, said wipers being adaptedtoengagethe upper pair of pincers and swing them against the lower pair of pincers, means rigidly supporting. the lower pair of pincers, a separate slide carrying'said wipers, and means for "actuatingsaid slide.

'3. A toe lasting machine having cooperating wipers and pincers, the pincers comprising two horse-shoe shaped pairs, arrangedone above the other, the upperpair of pincers being resilient, said wipers being adaptedto engage the upper pair of pincers and swing them against thelower pair of pincers, the upper'pair being provided with a row of holes formed at itsinner rim, both carried by the lower pair and entering in the holes of the upper pair when the upper pair is swung against the lower pairy'a slide carrying said Wipers, and means for actuatingsaid slide.

4. A toe lastingniachine having cooperating wipers and pincers, the pincerscomprising two horse-shoe shaped pairs arranged one abovethe other, the upper 'pairof pincers beingresilient, said wipers being adaptedto engage the upper pair'of pincers and swing them against the lower pair of pincers, the upper pair being provided with-a row of holes formed at its inner rim and bothheadscarried'by the lower pair and adapted to enter into the holes of the upper pair, the

bolt heads being longer at'the sides of the pincers than at the lip'whereby theuppe'rs aremaintained longer there for the following lasting operation.- 5. 'A'toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers of similar shape, the pincers comprising:

comprisinghnrseho sha ed pairs r r ppin .a last-,: eachjpair. operating: like shearblades, a

"tion one to theyotherya main slidega frame having a guideway forthe pincer slide and another parallel guideway for the main slide, whereby the main "slideis fmoved parallel to the pincer slide; said main slide having a-guide for supporting the wiper slide and moving it in a direction perpendicular to the movement-of the main-slide,

this main-slide having means to control the move- 'ments of the two othe'r slides, namely, the pincer slide and the wiper-slide; 1

8. A toe lasting machine" having pincers and wipers, a pincer-slide carrying said pincers, a

wiper slide carrying-said wipers-and a main-slide, the-main-slide controlling the "movements of the pincer-slideand wiper-slide by means'of a piston-cylinder device comprising two cylinders, pistons within said cylinders, a pedal-actuated Valve gear, controlling saidpis'tons, a mainframe, one of said cylinders being fixed on the main-frame, means connected with the piston in'said one cylinder for actuating the main-slide, the other cylinder being fixed on the wiper-slide, and means connected with the piston in said other cylinder for actuating the wipers arranged on the wiper- Y slide.

9. A-toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers, a pincer-slide carrying said pincers, a

wiper-slid carrying said wipers, and a mainslide, the main-slide controlling the movements of the pincer-slide and, wiper-slide by means of 'a piston-cylinder' device comprising two cylinders pistons within said cylinders, a pedal-actuated valve gear, controlling said pistons, a main frame, one of said cylinder being fixed on the 'main-frame, means connected with the piston in said one cylinder for actuating the main-slide,

the other cylinderbein'g fixed on the Wiper-slide,

means connected withthe piston said other cylinder for actuating the wipers arranged on the wiper-slide, and releasable locking means controlled by the wiper-slide and pivotally connecting the piston in said one cylinder to the main slide.

[10. I A, toe lasting machine having, pincers and wipers, a main-:slide, a wipereslide carrying said wipers and a pincer-slide carryingsaid pincers, piston-cylinder devices effecting t e movement of the main slide and wiper-slide andcausing the main-slide to control the movements of the pincer slide and wiperslide means pivotally connecting the main slide with the. piston of the cylinder actuating the mainslide, a driving device transmitting the piston movement to the wiper- ,slide, and means temporarily locking said driving device.

- 11. A toe lasting machine having pincer and wipers,fa main-slide, awiper-slide carrying said wipers and apincer-slide carrying said-pincers, piston-cylinder devices efiecting th movement of the main slide and wiper-slide and causing the main-slide to control the movements of the pincer slide and wiper slide, means pivotally connecting the main. slide with cylinder, actuating the mainslidegadriving, device transmitting the sole-pressers, said control device being actuated by said gear system.

12. A toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers, a main-slide, a wiper-slide carrying said wipers and a pincer-slide carrying said pincers, piston-cylinder devices effecting the movement of the main slide and wiper-slide and causing the main-slide to control the movements of the pincer slide and wiper slide, means pivotally connecting the main slide with the piston of the cylinder actuating the main slide, and a control device regulating a heel-holder and connected to said cylinder.

13. A toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers, a main slide, a wiper-slide carrying said wipers and a pincer-slide carrying said pincers, feelers and pressers, and piston-cylinder devices effecting the movement of the main slide and wiper-slide, the cylinder devices comprising a main-cylinder fixed on the machine-frame and a cylinder fixed on the wiper-slide, the latter containing a piston connected to a member actuating and controlling the feelers and th pressers.

14. A toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers, a main-slide, a wiper-slide and a pincerslide, piston-cylinder devices effecting the movement of the main-slide and the wiper-slide and a valve control device comprising three valves adjustable for three combinations of different positions, the adjustment of the valves being effected by a pedal-drive.

15. A toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers, a main-slide, a wiper-slide and a pincerslide, piston-cylinder devices efiecting the movement of the main-slide and the wiper-slide and a valve control device comprising three valves adjustable for three combinations of different positions, the adjustment of the valves being effected by a pedal-drive, connected to a crank and its crank-cam-shaft, the cams of which engage the valve stems for one step of the movement of the Working members of the machine.

16. A toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers, a main-slide, a wiper-slide and'a pincerslide, piston-cylinder devices effecting the movement of the mainand the wiper-slide, a valvecontrol device and a' main-device connected to the main cylinder piston, the main-device comprising a lever pivoted on the main-slide, this lever being provided with a toothed segment, with a ratchet wheel and a bevel gear, the ratchet wheel resting on a releasable locking mechanism and the bevel gear being connected to the control device of the pincers.

17. A toe lasting machine having pincers and wipers, a main-slide, a wiper-slide and a pincerslide, piston-cylinder devices elfecting the movement of the main-slide and the wiper-slide and a valve control device comprising three valves adjustable for three combinations of different positions, the adjustment of the valves being effected by a pedal-drive, the movement of the main-slide being adjustable within certain limits.

HEINRICH WAL'I'HER. SR. 

